Monthly Archives: February 2015

If you posted a reference photo to your blog, I have printed it.
Today we will begin drawing our portraits on the 18×24″ project paper.

Begin by lightly drawing the outlines of the shapes created by the value changes in your reference photo:

Now pick one of the following options depending on the style you are going for:

Option 1

If you prioritize maintaining legible words over creating a realistic drawing, fill in each shape with bold letters:

You will then color in each letter with black ink pen or colored pencil to create an image like the ones below:

Option 2

If you prioritize creating a realistic drawing over maintaining the legibility of the words, pretend you are scumbling (controlled scribbling) or stippling with words. Lightly draw in words over the mid-tone areas, and layer words on top of one another to create a gradually darkening gradient. This will create an image like the ones below:

Our next project will be created with traditional media. You will draw a typographic portrait with pencil, colored pencil, or black ink pen. You will carefully select words that add to the meaning of the portrait. For example, if you are drawing a musician, you may use their song lyrics. If you are drawing a character from a favorite movie or novel, you may use text from that movie or novel. You may choose to use a speech given by a public figure, or to juxtapose conflicting text and imagery to make a statement (ie. drawing a young child from legislation on standardized testing and the common core).

Here are some examples of finished projects:

Project Requirements:

fills an 18×24 paper with a strong composition

balances positive and negative space in an aesthetically pleasing way

shows a range of value created with words

chosen words add to the meaning of the image

created with your choice of pencil, colored pencil, or black ink pen

Today we will:

a black & white version of the reference photo you plan to use. Ms. Lawson will print this between classes. You may choose to use the cut paper filter in Photoshop to simplify your reference photo to 3-5 values. See the end of this blog post for illustrated steps on how to do this. Here is the image I used for my example:

copy and paste any text you may use

How to Use the Cut Paper Filter in Photoshop to Simplify the Values in your Reference Photo

Download your image

Go to images.google.com and search for an image of your celebrity that is larger than 2MP

Click on the image of your choice until you can view it full size. Then right click -> save image as and REMEMBER WHERE YOU SAVED THE IMAGE

Open your celebrity photo in Photoshop

Open Photoshop (Click on the Windows icon at the bottom of the screen -> All Programs -> Adobe Master Collection CS3 -> Adobe Photoshop)

File -> Open (Select the image you downloaded. You will need to remember where you saved it!)

Turn the image black & white. (Image -> Mode -> Grayscale).

Crop your image.

Select the crop tool. Set the crop tool to 7.5×10 inches. Click and drag the crop tool until the area you want to crop is selected.

Hit enter to crop your image.

Intensify your shadows & highlights.

Image -> Adjustments -> Levels

Simplify your image to 3-5 shades.

Layer -> Duplicate Layer

Filter -> Artistic -> Cutout

Touch up your image so it looks smooth and has a solid color background.

Layer -> Duplicate Layer.

Use the eyedropper tool to select a color, then use the brush tool (with hardness set to 100%) to color over the image and smooth out any awkward spot. The { key will make your brush smaller, and the } key will make your brush larger. You can use the magnifying glass to zoom in on the image.

If you can brave the subzero temperatures and have access to a camera, try to take some photos this week.
I’ll give you extra credit if you post them to your blog. Here are some photos I took in today’s subzero weather:

Our next project will be created with traditional media. You will draw a typographic portrait with pencil, colored pencil, or black ink pen. You will carefully select words that add to the meaning of the portrait. For example, if you are drawing a musician, you may use their song lyrics. If you are drawing a character from a favorite movie or novel, you may use text from that movie or novel. You may choose to use a speech given by a public figure, or to juxtapose conflicting text and imagery to make a statement (ie. drawing a young child from legislation on standardized testing and the common core).

I have left written feedback for most people with suggestions for finishing touches. These suggestions are the bare minimum for what I would consider a “finished” project. Once make the suggested changes, you should upload a JPG or PNG of your finished project to your blog and write a 150 word artist statement on the project. You will then have two choices for the remaining classes this week: spend the time making your rotoscoping project even more awesome, or complete a small photo series on the topic “winter.” If you complete both projects, I will grade both but only input the better grade into parent connect.

Rotoscoping Project

Here are some rotoscoping projects that are looking great so far.
Notice how they have all altered/traced over most of the original photo to create something completely new:

Reid

Duncan

Katie

Dennis

Winter Photography

If you are mentally done with the rotoscoping project (or are happy with the results but just happened to finish early), you may choose to photograph winter. You will take and post at least 15 photos, and after consulting with Ms. Lawson, and editing anything necessary, submit a final miniseries of 5 solid photos. It is up to you whether you choose to go outside, but if you choose to stay exclusively indoors, you will probably also need to photograph at home to get enough variety and interest.

Here are some ideas to get you started. Use these as a starting point, but do not feel limited by them:

Deanna took some great winter photos last week:

Today we will:

make the suggested changes to the rotoscoping project

choose one of the following options:

continue working on the rotoscoping project to make it even more awesome

Today we will continue working on our rotoscoping projects. Please post your progress to your blog at the end of today’s class. Ms. Lawson will review your project over the weekend and give final suggestions next class. Next class will be our last class to work on this project.